AN UNEMPLOYED man who had drunk eight pints of cider brandished a table leg at a male police officer and assaulted two female officers whilst resisting arrest, a court heard.

Pc Sarah Jane Cross and Pc Charlotte Tucker were left with cuts and bruises after attempting to restrain 21-year-old Ricky Baker on February 6.

They had been called to his family’s home following reports of a disturbance.

On their arrival, Baker had threatened Sgt Ben D’Arcy with the one and a half foot long table leg before trying to flee.

"Officers Cross and Tucker chased after the offender and tried to detain him. The assault resulted from the struggle," said Louise Pinder, prosecuting.

Mrs Pinder said Pc Tucker had sustained a grazed elbow and knee, and that her colleague Pc Cross suffered bruising to her right calf after the defendant had grabbed hold of it.

Baker initially told officers he had not realised they were from the police and he put his behaviour down to the amount of cider he had consumed, said Mrs Pinder.

Joan Hughes, defending, said Baker needed ‘some sort of structure in his life.’ Stroud Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday that the defendant had problems with alcohol and was suffering from depression and insomnia.

Baker had previously pleaded guilty to three charges of assault on February 27, but his case had been adjourned whilst a pre-sentence report was prepared.

The defendant was awarded credit for his early guilty plea and given a 12 month community order and instructed to do 80 hours of unpaid work.

District Judge Jota Bopa-Rai also ordered Baker to pay £25 to Sgt D’Arcy and £50 each to officers Tuck and Cross in compensation.

Baker, of Lawnside, Forest Green, Nailsworth, must also pay £40 in court costs.